Posts Tagged Jamaica Observer
Horace Clarke Dies as First Wife was Being Buried
Posted by ShopinJA in Breaking News on July 12th, 2010
In Horace Clarke’s heyday, among his outstanding characteristics were the powerful handshakes and warm greeting that he offered not only to his constituents, but all those with whom he came in contact.
Clarke... who would have turned 78 had he lived to see his birthday on July 17, suffered the first stroke on July 2
In his last days, the firm grip restricted to the left hand was one of the only ways that he could communicate to those around him…sending a message that he was willing to put up a fight for his life, despite a major stroke that had limited his movements.
He could not respond verbally, but the outstanding grip and squeeze of the hand convinced visitors at his bedside that he fully appreciated what was being said, and the messages of support that were coming in for his recovery.
His movement on the left side of his body made up for the deficiencies of the right, which was flattened by the stroke.
That firm grip and fight eluded his grasp shortly after 11 o’clock Saturday night, as he succumbed to his second stroke, at the Andrew’s Memorial hospital in St Andrew.
Interestingly, the death of the former Cabinet minister and vice president of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) came on the same day that his first wife, Joy was buried at the St Andrew Parish Church, about two kilometres down the road.
Kartel Waits For Release
Posted by ShopinJA in Entertainment Buzz on July 8th, 2010
DETAINED danchehall act Vybz Kartel should know if he will be freed for the weekend when his detention order expires tomorrow.
Kartel was detained last week Friday and underwent intense questioning after turning himself in to the Greater Portmore Police Station, some three days after the police named him and five other men as major persons of interest.
The artiste, whose given name is Adijah Palmer, was questioned in relation to criminal gangs in Portmore, St Catherine.
Chris Tavares-Finson, one of Kartel’s lawyers, said he was hopeful the deejay would be released.
“His detention order is up tomorrow. We are hoping that they will release him,” Tavares-Finson told the Observer moments ago.
If released, the artiste should be able to honour a booking he has to perform in Ocho Rios.
Finance Ministry Robbed
Posted by ShopinJA in Breaking News on July 7th, 2010
AG uncovers $21-m fraud at finance ministry
THE finance ministry was hit by further embarrassment yesterday, following news that the Auditor General’s Department has uncovered fraud totalling $21 million.
Ministry of Finance and Planning
The disclosure at yesterday’s sitting of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament came on the heels of revelation that a director in charge of taxation policy at the ministry was slapped with several charges under the Corruption Prevention Act; the Customs Act; forgery; conspiracy to deceive and conspiracy to defraud.
Committee members lashed the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for its weak internal audit system, and chastised new financial secretary Dr Wesley Hughes.
Acting chief financial officer, Granville Green outlined the circumstances under which a powerful position was abused over a four-year period, leaving taxpayers $21 million in the red. Green did not name the person or persons responsible for the theft, but referred to the culprit as “she”, adding that she had fled the island.
“It was a situation wherein this unit was headed by what we call a SEG4 (senior executive group) and one would have thought that, ok, this person is in charge of this unit of about three persons and was authorised. She was the co-ordinator of the MOU secretariat and was liaison between the secretariat, the union, the various training institutions and all that. So she basically could authorise and approve documentations, expenditure, on a basically daily basis,” Green told the committee.
Bolt to Race 100, Drop 200 at Swiss Meet
Posted by ShopinJA in Featured Post on July 6th, 2010
Usain Bolt will run in the 100 metres instead of the 200 at the Athletissima meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, this week.
Organisers say the Olympic and world champion switched to the shorter race in Thursday’s event to avoid aggravating a sore Achilles’ tendon.
Athletissima spokesman Pierre-Andre Pasche says Bolt is recovering well from the injury but made the change after consulting his doctor in Munich.
Pasche says the IAAF has accepted the change.
Source: Jamaica Observer
